Canyon Girl Attempts to Win $15K

A 9-year-old Canyon girl is hoping her drawing will blow away national competition and land on a tissue box — and win Amarillo’s Children’s Miracle Network affiliate a $15,000 prize.

Madilynn Nichols, a third-grader at Reeves-Hinger Elementary School, entered the White Cloud tissue box design contest in November while in Northwest Texas Healthcare System for asthma-related problems.

The entry form was delivered to all kids in the hospital at that time by NWTH’s Child Life program, but Madilynn was confident that not only would she be the best locally, but that she could win the national contest, mom Krystal Nichols said.

“I told her it’s a long shot, but she said, ‘I know I’m going to do good,’” Nichols said.

Twelve semifinalists, including Madilynn, were chosen from more than 250 submissions, according to a news release.

“I just like ... learning how to draw neat things,” Madilynn said. “You just put your best work down on there. ... You can express yourself.”

The contest asked children to draw their favorite activity.

Madilynn’s drawing depicts herself under a blue sky, sketching on an easel in front of her school.

“I knew what I wanted to draw because ... art is one of my favorite subjects,” Madilynn said.

The top three design winners will be announced in June; each will win $15,000 for their local CMN hospitals.

The winning designs will be featured on special-edition boxes of White Cloud’s new tissues available exclusively at select Walmart stores in June.

Voters also will have a chance to win a $25 Walmart gift card, and one voter will win a year’s supply of White Cloud products.

“It would be great to get some ... attention for Amarillo,” Nichols said. “It would be an honor for my daughter, but I would really like to get Children’s Miracle Network the attention.”

“I think people should vote for me,” Madilynn said, “because Amarillo people can help the hospital have $15,000 for those kids in there, and I want to help them get better and get out.”

Madilynn is the second Amarillo-area artist to make the semifinals, following Jasmin Diaz last year.

Jodi Reid, CMN program director in Amarillo, said Madilynn may face an uphill battle.

“It’s hard when we’re up against these big huge cities like Las Vegas,” Reid said.

But should Madilynn prevail, Amarillo’s CMN affiliate would use the money for travel grants to assist families traveling out of town for medical care, medical grants and for the Child Life programs at NWTH and Baptist St. Anthony’s, Reid said.